The man’s gaze lifted itself to the clear, fresh-washed sky, and came back and rested on the oak-tree across the lot. “You’ve got a pretty place—nice tree over there!”
Richard wheeled and faced it. “I bought that tree last spring—needed more room—for the children—to play.” He spoke with offhand fatherhood.
“You got children?” said the man. His voice was astonished and a little pleased.
“One,” said Richard. “A little girl.”
The man nodded pleasantly. “I never saw her playing round,” he said simply.
“No—well... She was born this morning!” Richard laughed out.
The man smiled at him a slow, deep smile.... And all his face changed in the light.
“Say, that’s great!” he exclaimed.
“You’re a man now!” he added after a minute. The rough face grew quiet and strong. And Richard had a sense of something human that stirred in him. This man digging a post-hole had known!
They stood a minute in silence, looking about them at the morning and the free space of sky and watching the sun that had come over the roofs of the shabby houses.